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You love your golden Max and want him to look and feel his best, but you need to find a groomer for him and don’t know where to start looking.
It’s important to do your research when deciding who to choose.
First, it’s crucial to choose a few, then check each out individually by asking certain questions and checking out their facilities.
Remember: pet dog groomers and beauty parlors may not be regulated at all, so it’s up to you to check out them.
Some states have licensing and certification requirements which indicate that the groomer must meet certain standards.
Certified groomers normally need to pass written and functional exams given by recognized grooming schools.
However, some places self-certify their groomers. Be sure that the groomers meet high standards and that they haven’t had any complaints filed against them.
But it’s still incumbent on you to be sure that they meet those requirements and are ideal for you and your dog.
Grooming isn’t just to beautify your pup. It’s also to keep him healthy.
Grooming is crucial to keep your dog’s skin, coat, teeth, nails, and ears in height condition.
After you’ve done your homework, it’s crucial to depend on your instincts. If for some reason you’re not comfortable with a certain groomer, don’t use her.
Your dog’s life is literally in the groomer’s hands. So be choosy.
In this post I’ll give some ideas on how to find the best groomer for your golden Retriever.
How To find pet dog Groomer For Your golden Retriever
If possible, I don’t recommend just opening the phone book or doing a random Internet search to find a groomer.
It’s better to get some type of recommendation when beginning your search.
Even though the groomer that someone recommends might not be best for grooming your particular dog, it supplies a starting point in your search for the best groomer.
Ask Around
Ask family members, friends, and neighbors who they use to groom their dogs.
Ask people you see who has a well-groomed dog. I’ve found that a lot of people love talking about their dogs and being valuable to other pet dog parents.
In fact, I got my first pet dog groomer by asking an owner I met walking her shih tzu who to use.
I had a shih tzu at the time. I wound up using that groomer until I learned to groom my shih tzu Cuddles myself.
Also, ask your veterinarian who she recommends. Some vets may be reluctant to recommend a groomer but may inform you of groomers that their clients are delighted with.
And ask about why they like the groomer.
Is it how well she grooms their dog? Or price? Or location? Or the groomer’s credentials? You get the idea.
If they have a golden retriever like you do, it’s even better because you know that the groomer has experience in grooming that breed.
Check Out Organizations
The national pet dog Groomers of America association is an independent agency that groomers can voluntarily join. It promotes professionalism, education, and setting professional grooming standards.
Their web site has a groomer locator. Although groomers who join this organization may follow its standards, you still need to thoroughly check out the groomer by doing your own research because the agency doesn’t do regulatory checks on its members.
Many states have similar voluntary organizations you can check out.
Groomers who are members of such organizations normally have to sign some code of conduct and certify that they meet certain standards.
But it’s a starting point if you don’t have any other recommendations.
How To check Out a certain Groomer
So you’ve chosen a couple of groomers to check out. There are lots of questions to ask the groomer and to excursion their facilities and how well they’re run.
Ask the Groomer Questions
There are certain facts you’ll need to know before making your final decision.
I recommend asking the following questions in addition to any follow-ups you have.
How long have you been grooming?
Did you go to a grooming school or apprentice for a professional groomer? Who? When? how long?
How much experience have you had grooming golden retrievers?
Are you a member of any professional organizations? Which ones?
Ask for any licensing or certification requirements required by your state.
Ask how they deal with dogs–including tough dogs. Do they use treats and kindness? Do they give the dogs a break in grooming if needed because the pet dog is stressed?
What do you do if a dog’s matted?
Do they use drying cages? Is a dryer made for cage drying?
Do they or someone stay with the pet dognullnull